Ok, I'm new to this forum and I need help BAD!

I have a 1998 Talon ESI. Right now, at startup there is a squealing under the hood, it sounds like a belt. It goes for 2 seconds and stops. Now, if I shut my car off right away and start it back up again, it will squeal for like 2 minutes. . .When I drive during the day, it will squeal when I apply the brakes, when I drive at night, it will squeal when I have the heat on and/or when I hit the brakes and it will not stop squealing until I either drive til I'm above 2000 rpms, or rev it until I hit 2000 rpms. And my dash lights dim. . .a LOT.

I don't have a PS/AC belt and I know timing belts don't make that noise when they jump a tooth. . .

My battery light is NOT on, and no CEL light either.

Is my alternator going bad? Or is it the Voltage Regulator in the ECU?

Also, I can't rip out the alternator cause I have no jack, or jack stands and this is a daily driver. . .Is there a way to test the alternator and battery without taking them out of the car? Thanks

tighten your alternator belt.

tighten/replace the Alternator belt...;-)

And the Belt is at 22N (the EXACT tension it should be at) and it is new.. . .

Only time I had this problem is when the shop that I had replace a few things forgot torque a bolt correctly on some bracket that affected the Aletrnator and p/s pulleys, started throwing and shredding belts, but before they were thrown the lights would dim and the belts would squeal.

Check alignment of the pulleys with a straight edge, though this shouldn't be the problem if you haven't had any work done to the engine in awhile.

Last time I remember my car feeling fast is when the alternator belt fell off, prolly gave me 10 more hp, lol.

Sounds like you have a failing bearing in the alternator and it is dragging, causing the belt to squeel and the lights to dim. A voltage test wouldn't show anything in that case.

So basically if i get a new alternator, bolt it on, connect the harness and set the right tension, it will be fixed? Others said it was the Voltage regulator which is in the ECU. . .could that be it??

Originally posted by evil_talon
So basically if i get a new alternator, bolt it on, connect the harness and set the right tension, it will be fixed? Others said it was the Voltage regulator which is in the ECU. . .could that be it??

I believe that the voltage regulator is in the alternator...
I didnt have belts squealing, but the lights were dimming and my ecu was throwing a voltage code (cant remember what it was...) but replaced alternator and no more problems
until timing happened...
devil car }(

I doubt it. The regulator is built into the alternator, but the field switching is controlled by the ECU. Wanna bypass it? You can use an old Omni external voltage regulator to do it, but the battery light will be on if you do.

Originally posted by DarkOne
Sounds like you have a failing bearing in the alternator and it is dragging, causing the belt to squeel and the lights to dim. A voltage test wouldn't show anything in that case.

or that, so take the belt off and spin the alt pulley by hand slowly and see if it turns smoothly with no wobble
if it doesnt grind of wobble, replace the belt
if it does...
http://verizonsupersite.com/4alterstartcom/pages/store/skudetail.nhtml?profile=highoutputalternators&uid=10662&returnURL=http%3A//verizonsupersite.com/4alterstartcom/pages/common/sitesearch.nhtml%3Fquery%3Declipse&catuid=10013 :thumbsup
and get a new belt anyways ;)

Originally posted by DarkOne
Sounds like you have a failing bearing in the alternator and it is dragging, causing the belt to squeel and the lights to dim. A voltage test wouldn't show anything in that case.

This was the exact situation. Anyone have a cheap alternator??